Ratio Shore Power plugs

laika

laika

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Apr 2011
Messages
8,307
Location
London / Gosport
Visit site
I finally got hacked off with flimsy plastic shore port sockets where the cover always snaps off and at southampton last year I bought what looks to be a nice stainless inlet that just required me to get round to a bit of fibreglassing to fill the enormous 'ole left by the old plastic socket. I'm finally getting round to that and have suddenly realised that the inlet, manufactured by ratio electric, is part of a "system" incompatible with the shonkey-yet-ubiquitous "commando" plugs.

Going through old forum posts I see only praise for the ratio system so I'm not averse to replacing the plugs on my shore power cables to fit but none of the resellers I tend to deal with sell these and I'm always nervous about giving my credit card to some random web site.

So for those people who use the ratio/victon system:
* Do yo recommend it?
* Where do you buy plugs etc. from?
 
We had a flimsy shore power inlet on our previous boat, which needed periodic replacement.

The current boat has a much better and simpler solution. There is no inlet socket. Instead the shore power cable is permanently connected inside the stern locker, with just a small u shape cutout to avoid being trapped by the locked lid when the cable is in use..
One failure point eliminated entirely.
 
Does anyone know anywhere I can walk into and buy a plug in the solent area? I note that Energy Solutions as recommended by nigel1 wants me to create an account which I'm not excited about, and I do want to get this job done in the next few days if I'm going to do it at all
 
I replaced the Marinco style which had frayed cables and scorch marks with a Ratio unit about 10 years ago. It still looks like new and works exactly as expected, safe, water resistant, secure. The only downside is that the plug is a tight fit to pull out and needs a bit of strength to extract. The locking ring on the plug is light plastic compared to the robustness of the whole socket and it too takes force to lock closed by a small rotation. However, as stated, it all works very well. I would certainly recommend the Ratio socket and plug.

Marinco style should be banned, or at the minimum inspected routinely, as the design is terrible and promotes failure.
 
Can't find an outlet in the Solent area but loads of ( well known safe) suppliers on line. Also Victron Power products appear to be compatible if you can find them.
 
I've ordered from marine electricals and will report back on both the sales experience and the system itself. I remain *slightly* iffy about going with something that I can't just walk into any chandlery to replace...
 
laika said:
I've ordered from marine electricals and will report back on both the sales experience and the system itself. I remain *slightly* iffy about going with something that I can't just walk into any chandlery to replace...
Click to expand...

Well, there is no need to feel "iffy", perhaps mildly inconvenienced having to arrange a return. I buy almost 100% online now, except for low cost consumables.

Accepting returns and giving refunds: the law.

... consumers have a 14-day "cooling-off" period to cancel an order and return items purchased through distance selling (e.g., online or by phone) without needing to give a reason. They must inform the seller of their decision to cancel within this 14-day period and then have another 14 days to return the goods. The seller must then provide a refund, including standard delivery costs, within 14 days of receiving the returned goods.
Click to expand...
 
RunAgroundHard said:
Well, there is no need to feel "iffy", perhaps mildly inconvenienced having to arrange a return.
Click to expand...
I'm not worried about the quality of the product or anticipating returning it: I'm happy with the positive recommendations of other forumites. Nor am I worried about buying online from places I'm familiar with: I've been buying stuff online for more than a quarter century. My concern here (apart from an unfamiliar site) is with buying a "niche" product that I can't just get a replacement for in any chandler. And yes I have ordered *2* plugs just to be on the safe side :-).

It's like toilets: I'm sure there are plenty of bogs better made than jabscos, but they do have the advantage that every chandler everywhere has the bits you need to fix them
 
laika said:
I'm not worried about the quality of the product or anticipating returning it: I'm happy with the positive recommendations of other forumites. Nor am I worried about buying online from places I'm familiar with: I've been buying stuff online for more than a quarter century. My concern here (apart from an unfamiliar site) is with buying a "niche" product that I can't just get a replacement for in any chandler. And yes I have ordered *2* plugs just to be on the safe side :).

It's like toilets: I'm sure there are plenty of bogs better made than jabscos, but they do have the advantage that every chandler everywhere has the bits you need to fix them
Click to expand...
They won't if you buy on line in the first instance, because if you insist on buying online, how can you expect the chandlery to be there when you want it? The chandler in Burnham will get that unusual bog if you want it. You just need to walk in & ask. there are many like it-- Or was untill Online surfers killed their trade.
It is your own fault really :unsure: :cry:
 
Daydream believer said:
They won't if you buy on line in the first instance, because if you insist on buying online, how can you expect the chandlery to be there when you want it? The chandler in Burnham will get that unusual bog if you want it. You just need to walk in & ask. there are many like it-- Or was untill Online surfers killed their trade.
It is your own fault really :unsure: :cry:
Click to expand...
I think you mistake me: In replying to RunAgroundHard I was saying that I have no issue with the general notion of buying online. I may be guilty as charged for killing off bookshops on the highstreet but I've always preferred to give my boaty business to a local chandlery. You'll note that I'm only buying online here because there *is* nowhere in the solent area I can just walk into. One of my toilets was bought in a chandlery, one at a boat show, with spares bought at various places between Brighton, Falmouth and the Channel Islands :)

​

 
laika said:
I've ordered from marine electricals and will report back on both the sales experience and the system itself.
Click to expand...
I ordered on Tuesday. within the course of 20 minutes this morning:
* I emailed marine electricals to ask if they had any tracking info as I'd not had any
* I got a text from DPD to say the package would be delivered in the next hour
* The package was delivered
* I emailed marine electricals to say I'd received the package
* They replied saying glad it was received.

The plugs seem good so I'm forging ahead with the shore power replacement project.

From this we conclude:
* Marine Electricals dispatched the correct product promptly and reply promptly to email. Thumbs up and "would buy again".
* DPD are sh1te. Pretty sure I should have got a delivery estimate more than 5 minutes beforehand. Maybe retirees, people with a stay-at-home partner, butler, concierge or whatever don't mind but for those of us who need to arrange WFH days that's not acceptable
 
laika said:
* DPD are sh1te. Pretty sure I should have got a delivery estimate more than 5 minutes beforehand. Maybe retirees, people with a stay-at-home partner, butler, concierge or whatever don't mind but for those of us who need to arrange WFH days that's not acceptable
Click to expand...

FFS, chill out man. I think this is called a "first world problem". You got what you wanted, quickly. Supplier and DPD have done well.
 
penberth3 said:
FFS, chill out man. I think this is called a "first world problem". You got what you wanted, quickly. Supplier and DPD have done well.
Click to expand...
In the grand scheme of things I have enough to eat and no crazies are trying to bomb me so if that is our yardstick it doesn't matter if I even get a couple of plugs or not.

My promise was to provide feedback on this order. I'm not sure why you think I should not have done that. Perhaps someone is in your home every day to receive deliveries but you'll note that for the working population WFH opportunities are now limited by many employers and need to be booked in advance so yes, knowing in advance what day something is going to arrive is helpful and generally a basic service offered by delivery companies. Clearly not DPD.
 
Last edited:
laika said:
more than 5 minutes beforehand. Maybe retirees, people with a stay-at-home partner, butler, concierge or whatever don't mind but for those of us who need to arrange WFH days that's not acceptable
Click to expand...
They'll leave it in a bin and send you a photo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top